Electric Boat announced last month that a new Navy contract should increase employment at Quonset Point from 2,000 to 3,000 over the next few years.

The Obama Factor: Many job experts are speculating about what effect President-elect Barack Obama's proposed stimulus package will have on employment. Challenger said some form of government stimulus is "inevitable." The new president will have a Democratic Congress to work with, he said, and there's even a consensus among many Republicans that government action is necessary.

Harden, of the Economic Development Corporation, said spending on infrastructure, such as bridges, would help Rhode Island's construction industry, and would make more sense than just handing people a check to spend on, say, a new flat-screen TV. Money spent on a construction project, on the other hand, will provide jobs and leave the state better than it was before. Construction work also has a "ripple effect" that helps suppliers and subcontractors.

Harden said money for environmentally friendly "green" technology is another area that could affect Rhode Island employment, although the specifics and timing are not as clear as the plans for repairing bridges and roads.

Education and Training: Traditionally, enrollment in colleges and training programs increases during difficult economic times, as people seek way to make themselves more employable. Many job experts say this is the right time to improve your job skills, whether you already have a job or not. If you do, and your employer provides in- house training or tuition reimbursement for training outside the company, you should try to take advantage of the opportunity.

Alssid said it's a good time to consider how the skills you have on one job might translate to another. "The difference might just be a [educational] certificate away," he said. Alssid recommended a Web site called O*NET ( www.onetcenter.org) that offers an online analysis of the compatibility between different jobs.

Powell said the Department of Labor and Training has grant money available to pay for training for those who qualify, with more than 170 programs participating. For information, go to www.dlt.ri.gov and click on "WIA approved training" in the right-hand column.

Of course, taking time out for training isn't always practical for people whose immediate need is to support themselves and their families. Challenger thinks it's best to concentrate on getting a job first, then trying to upgrade your skills.

"It's impractical for many people," Challenger said. "It's risky, because it can take your eye off the ball. Maybe if you are in your 20s, it's a good idea, but for many, they need cash flow, and this can represent a huge cash-flow hit. . . I don't think it's the right thing to do at this time. Try to get the job first."

Get Away from That Computer: Certainly computers have a role in any job search. Many companies, for example, require that job applications be sent online. And computers can be used for networking through social sites such as LinkedIn. But job experts warn that simply sitting in front of a computer scanning the job boards all day long is highly unlikely to find you a job.

"We used to have a 9-to-5 rule, that between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. you should keep the computer off," Natusch said. "People who sit in front of the computer and send out 400 resumes a day are just going to drive themselves crazy. You need to be talking to people. You need to be in front of people," he said.

Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA career center at Northeastern University, said that, in this economy, not all jobs get posted online. What's more, applications sent via a job board are going to be competing with hundreds, perhaps thousands of others, and are less likely to end up in the hands (or on the screen) of the person who is actually doing the hiring.